12 Tips For New Managers and
Managers Who Want to Improve Results

The transition from individual contributor to Manager/Leader is difficult because a whole new mindset is required. You must now get work done through others, think from “Big Picture” to detail rather than the other way around and become an expert at delegation, which is a learned skill.

Below are some tips to help you recalibrate your thinking as you go through the transition. If you have not worked with me before you may want to take advantage of a free coaching session to discuss how to apply these principles to your individual situation.

1. Title and Authority can be given but the willingness of others to follow must be earned.

2. Authoritarian management no longer works because people are too well informed and have many other choices. Under authoritarian management the best people will leave, poor performers will sabotage and mediocre performers will stop thinking and just follow the rules even if the rules are getting poor results.

3. As a manager/leader your job is: To provide the VISION of where the organization is going and why. To GET WORK DONE THROUGH OTHERS and to REMOVE OBSTACLES so people can perform at the highest level possible.

4. 80% of all problems are system problems not people problems.

5. Give people a vision, empower them to fulfill it and with guidance they will.

6. A commitment to ongoing training for yourself and your employees is one of the most cost-effective high productivity tools at your disposal.

7. People resist what they do not help to create.

8. People are very smart. They will always figure out your agenda because your actions speak louder than your words.

9. You get more of what you put your attention on. Be careful of setting up unintended negative rewards.

10. Effective DELEGATION is a learned skill not one you were born with.

11. Excellent communication skills are vital. Listening with the intention to truly understand is one of your most powerful communication tools.

12. Give up all assumptions about what people do or do not know, will or will not do, should know or do, etc. Assumptions almost always get poor, if not disastrous, results.

I recommend reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey.